Surgical Management of the Axilla for Breast Cancer

Alison Laws; Olga Kantor; Tari A King

doi:10.1016/j.hoc.2022.08.005

Surgical Management of the Axilla for Breast Cancer

Hematol Oncol Clin North Am. 2023 Feb;37(1):51-77. doi: 10.1016/j.hoc.2022.08.005.

Authors

Alison Laws¹, Olga Kantor¹, Tari A King²

Affiliations

¹ Division of Breast Surgery, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Breast Oncology Program, Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
² Division of Breast Surgery, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Breast Oncology Program, Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: tking7@bwh.harvard.edu.

PMID: 36435614
DOI: 10.1016/j.hoc.2022.08.005

Abstract

This review discusses the contemporary surgical management of the axilla in patients with breast cancer. Surgical paradigms are highlighted by clinical nodal status at presentation and treatment approach, including upfront surgery and neoadjuvant systemic therapy settings. This review focuses on the increasing opportunities for de-escalating the extent of axillary surgery in the era of sentinel lymph node biopsy, while also reviewing the remaining indications for axillary clearance with axillary lymph node dissection.

Keywords: Axillary surgery; Breast cancer; MARI; Sentinel lymph node biopsy; Targeted axillary dissection.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Axilla / pathology
Breast Neoplasms* / pathology
Breast Neoplasms* / surgery
Female
Humans
Lymph Nodes / pathology
Lymph Nodes / surgery
Lymphatic Metastasis / pathology
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy